Guardian Quiptic 1,076/Pasquale
Pasquale doesn’t often compile the Quiptic, but when he does, you know that it will be sound as a pound. This would be a good one to sit down and do with a … Read more >>
Guardian
Guardian Cryptic 28,172 by Vulcan
A nice start to the week with a lot of neat cluing – my favourites were 14ac, 25ac, 27ac, 8dn, and 20dn. Thanks to Vulcan. ACROSS 9 ONE-LEGGED Needing support, being half … Read more >>
Guardian Prize 28,165 by Picaroon
Very enjoyable indeed. Thank you Picaroon. ACROSS 1 LUSTRE Outspoken person desiring brilliance (6) sounds like (out-spoken) “luster” (person desiring) 5 PASTICHE Plane’s nose sparkling white and red in take-off (8) Plane … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,170 by Paul
A slow and tricky solve, with lots of fun clues – I particularly liked 1ac, 9/23, 13ac, 17ac, 21ac, 26ac, 3dn, and 14dn. Many thanks to Paul. ACROSS 1 SESAME Pith extracted … Read more >>
Guardian 28,169 – Nutmeg
Another top-quality puzzle from Nutmeg: a good range of difficulty in the clues, with some of the six double definitions (perhaps verging on the excessive side?) causing me the most trouble. There are … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,168 by Puck
A toughie from Puck provides some midweek entertainment, but not one for those who don’t like toilet humour. Puck is at his naughty best here with a few clues that rely on a … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,167 by Qaos
The puzzle may be found at https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/28167. It’s Qaos, so there must surely be a theme; I could not spot it without a hint from his website – and it turns out that … Read more >>
Quiptic 1075 Hectence
Thanks to Hectence. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 7 Hard-working policeman’s fired, having concealed information (8) DILIGENT : DI(abbrev. for “Detective Inspector”, a quite senior policeman) + LIT(fired/set on fire) containing(having … Read more >>
Guardian 28,166 / Pan
It’s me again: it’s been one of those weekends when the daily-advancing weekday schedule coincides with my monthly Saturday blog slot. Pan sets a bit more of a challenge to start the week, … Read more >>
Guardian Saturday Puzzle 28,159 / Enigmatist
We don’t see Enigmatist very often and, as it happens, I blogged his previous puzzle last November. As most of you agree, I think, embarking on an Enigmatist puzzle is a rather hairy … Read more >>
Guardian 28,164 / Pasquale
Pasquale rounds off the weekday crosswords in characteristic style, with a meticulously clued puzzle, with one or two less familiar words or expressions for good measure. I did ‘know’ all the answers today … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,163 by Brendan
A very enjoyable solve… …with many clues and surfaces revolving around 8,9,10ac MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST. Favourites were 11ac, 17ac, 4dn, 16dn, and 18dn. Not sure how to parse 7dn. Thanks to Brendan. ACROSS … Read more >>
Guardian 28,162 – Matilda
I think this is Matilda’s second appearance in the Cryptic slot, after a distinguished career as a Quiptic setter. I was the blogger of her first Cryptic, and remarked then that I found … Read more >>
Guardian Cryptic 28,161 by Brummie
A classic Brummie puzzle? Certainly, the theme was classic(al). At least eight of the answers were the names of symphonies, although technically I think the Alpine is a symphony in name only. I … Read more >>
Guardian Quiptic 1,074/Anto
Anto has the Quiptic for us this morning. Abbreviations cd cryptic definition dd double definition cad clue as definition (xxxx)* anagram anagrind = anagram indicator [x] letter(s) removed definitions … Read more >>